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Notify strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to assist your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly US financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, trends, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
The Financier's Handbook for Qatar and Oman LawsEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Revolutionizing Gulf Operations Through AI-Powered Shared ServicesRegardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum recently. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have so far limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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